Adjustable gutter for roof ventilator



Dec. 4, 1962 R. G. LINDNER 3,066,594

ADJUSTABLE GUTTER FOR ROOF VENTILATOR Filed July 3, 1961 INVENTOR.

' ROBERT G. LINDNER 1 BY away 1 ATTORNEY United. States atent @fiiiee 3436-6594 ADJUSTABLE GUTTER FUR R06 VENTI ATGR Robert G. Lindner, Bridger Elle, Pa, assignor to II. II. Robertson Company, Pittsburgh, Pa, :1 eorporation of Pennsylvania Filed July 3, wet, Ser. No. 121,411 6 Claims. (til. 93--42) The present invention relates to a gutter for use in a ventilator. More particularly the present invention relates to an improved adjustable gutter for use between a pair of normally coplanar damper elements pivotally mounted within a ventilator.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an adjustable gutter that assures Weathertightness of a ventilator when its damper elements are closed.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an adjustable gutter that lightproofs a ventilator when its damper elements are closed.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an adjustable gutter having wiper flanges that conform to the surface with which they are in wiping contact.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an adjustable gutter that conforms to the shape of the support to which it is secured.

A further object of this invention is to provide an adjustable gutter that may be quickly and easily installed.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an adjustable gutter that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and install.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary isometric view illustrating the present adjustable gutter;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the gutter of FIGURE 1 illustrating its adjustability;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view illustrat ing an alternative configuration of a wiper flange of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, similar to FIGURE 3, illustrating another alternative configuration;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, similar to FIGURE 3, illustrating a further alternative configuration;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary isometric view of a roof of a building illustrating a ventilator provided with the present adjustable gutter;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 77 of FIGURE 6;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of FIGURE 6;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of FIGURE 6; and

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 1010 of FIGURE 6.

Referring to FIGURE 1, there is illustrated an adjustable gutter means including opposed laterally displaceable L-shaped portions 22, a bendable central portion 26 and at least one wiper flange 28 on each of the L-shaped portions 22.

Each of the L-shaped portions includes a vertical leg and a horizontal leg 32.

The wiper flanges 28 are contiguous with the upper ends of the vertical legs 30 and are disposed in outboard relation to the horizontal legs 32. Each of the Wiper flanges 23 includes an outer edge 33 which is adapted to serve as a wiper.

The bendable central portion 26 is arcuately shaped and includes terminal side edges 34 which are contiguous with the horizontal legs 32. As shown the thickness of the bendable central portion 26 is less than the thickness of the opposed L-shaped portions 22. Thus the bendable central portion 26 provides a flexible connection between the opposed L-shaped portions 22 and serves to bias the wiper flanges 28 away from each other.

As clearly shown in FIGURE 2 the L-shaped portions 22 may be laterally displaced towards each other. The L-shaped portions 22 may also be displaced vertically with respect to one another, as indicated in phantom outline by the L-shaped portion 22'. Thus the bendable central portion 26 provides a flexible connection whereby the gutter means 20 may conform to the shape of the support to which it is secured.

The adjustable gutter means 20 is illustrated as a unitary strip of resilient rubber-like material preferably comprising a polyvinyl plastic. Alternatively the gutter means 29 could comprise other plastic materials such as polyethylene or polypropylene or natural or synthetic rubber materials such as neoprene, Buna and the like.

Alternative configurations of the wiper flanges 28 are illustrated in FIGURES 3, 4 and 5. Referring in particular to FIGURE 3, the vertical leg 39 is provided with a plurality to wiper flanges 28 each having an outer edge 33a which are adaptable to serve as wipers. In this instance the outer edges 33a lie in a plane, indicated at P, which plane is substantially parallel to the vertical leg 30.

Another alternative, illustrated in FIGURE 4, provides the wiper flanges 28 with outer edges 33b which lie in a plane indicated at P. In this instance the plane P is inclined with respect to the vertical leg 3%.

A further alternative configuration is shown in FIGURE 5 and comprises a wiper flange 36 having a serrated edge 38.

An environment in which the present adjustable gutter means 29 may be used, is illustrated in FIGURES 6 to 8 inclusive. Referring to these figures there is illustrated a ventilator 44- including a base 45 having side walls 46 and end walls 47 which surround an opening 48 in a roof 49 of a building 50.

The ventilator 44 further includes a pair of side cowls 51 and an inverted V-shaped cap member 52 which is positioned intermediate of and spaced from the side cowls 51.

The ventilator 44 further includes a plurality of spaced support elements 53 extending between the side walls 46 and normally coplanar damper elements 54 one each disposed between each pair of adjacent support elements 53. The damper elements 54 include opposed ends 55 pivotally secured to the support elements 53 for rotation about an axis, illustrated in FIGURE 6 by the dot-dash line marked 56, which is substantially parallel to the side walls 46. Preferably the axis of each damper element 54 is in substantial alignment with the axes of the remaining damper elements.

The ventilator 4-4 also includes operating means 53 connected to a group of the damper elements 54 for pivoting the damper elements as a unit about their respective axes 56. Referring in particular to FIGURES 6 and 7, the operating means 58 includes an elongated rod 60 which is pivotally secured to brace elements 6-1 within the base 45. Further, an actuator such as the air motor 62 serves to pivot the rod 60. Each of the damper elements 54 is connected to the elongated rod 69 by means of pivotally connected arms 63, 64. As shown the arm 63 is secured to the rod 68 while the arm 64 is pivotally connected to the damper element 54. Thus the air motor 62 pivots a group of the damper elements 54, by means of the arms 63, 64, from the closed position illustrated to the open position shown in phantom out line and indicated by 54.

The ventilator 44 normally serves to exhaust hot gases from the interior of the building t}. However, the ventilator 44 may also serve as a smoke ventilator, i.e., to exhaust smoke from the interior of the building 50 caused by a fire therein. As can be seen in FIGURE 7 the axis 56, about which the damper elements 54 pivot, is offset from the center of the damper elements 54. Further, the arm 6-4 includes a bulb link 65 which is designed to melt when the gases within the base 45 exceed a predetermined temperature. When the bulb link or links 65 melt, the damper element or elements 54 are free to pivot about the offset axis 56 to the open position 54 and thereby vent the accumulated smoke from within the building 50.

Because each of the damper elements 54 is separately pivoted, to provide the smoke exhaust feature, several problems arise which are as follows.

(1) The support elements 53 are not always equally spaced from each other;

(2) The support elements 53 are not always precisely parallel to each other;

(3) There is some longitudinal movement of the damper elements 54; and

(4) The damper elements 54 are not always longitudinally aligned, i.e., the adjacent ends 55 are not precisely parallel.

With these problems in mind, reference is now directed to FIGURE 8 wherein the pivotal connection be tween the damper elements 54 and the support elements 53 is illustrated in greater detail. Shown herein are adjacent damper elements 54a, 54b having adjacent ends 55a, 55b which include faces 66a, 66b disposed substantially normal to their respective axes 56a, 56-h. The damper elements 54a, 54b include vertical flanges 67a, 67b. The support element 53 also includes vertical flanges 68a, 68b. A pin 69 extends through bearing elements '70 (which are secured to the vertical flanges 67a, 67b) and the vertical flanges 67a, 67b, 68a, 68b. Spacer washers 71 are positioned between the flanges 67a, 68a to establish the initial spacing between the flanges 67a, 68a.

Additional spacer washers 72 are positioned between the vertical flanges 67b, 68b and serve to take up the play therebetween. However, as can be seen, some unfilled space 73 usually remains which permits some longitudinal movement of the damper elements 54a, 54b. The pin 69 is prevented from coming out by means of fasteners such as cotter pins 74.

It is between the adjacent faces 66a, 6612 wherein the present gutter means 20 is positioned. As illustrated, the L-shaped portions 22 have been displaced towards each other and the horizontal legs 32 secured to the support element 53 by means of fasteners such as self tapping screws 75. The wiper flanges 28 have their outer edge 33 in wiping contact with the adjacent faces 66a, 66b.

Since the support elements 53 are inclined (see FIG- URE 7), the gutter means 20 is likewise inclined with its lowermost end extending beyond the side wall 46. Thus when the damper elements 54a, 54b are in the closed position (see FIGURE 7), any water that enters the ventilator 44 and deposits on the gutter means 2%} will be directed along the gutter means 20 for discharge therefrom onto the roof 49.

FIGURE 8 illustrates the position which the wiper flanges 28 assume when the gutter means 20 is installed. However, in FIGURES 9 and 10 the wiper flanges 28 are illustrated in their normal positions, i.e., once the damper elements 54 have been pivoted to their open position 54 (see FIGURE 7) and closed again.

FIGURES 9 and 10 are cross-section views taken along opposed sides of the axis 56. As the damper element 54 pivots in an opening direction it moves upwardly with respect to one side of the axis 56 (FIGURE 10) and downwardly with respect to the other side of the axis 56 (FIGURE 9). On closing of the damper element 54, the movement is reversed.

In FIGURE 9, for example, the position of the wiper flange 28 is identical to that of FIGURE 8. This side of the damper element 54 closes in an upward direction and opens in a downward direction, as indicated by the arrows labeled CLOSE and OPEN. Thus it can be seen that water depositing on the wiper flange 28 (of FIGURE 9) will run off and into the channel portion of the gutter means 20, as indicated by the arrow at A while the damper elements 54 are in the closed position shown in FIGURE 9.

In FIGURE 10, however, the wiper flange 28 is bent downwardly since this side of the damper element 54 opens in an upward direction and closes in a downward direction, as indicated by the arrows labeled OPEN and CLOSE. It should be evident that because the gutter means 20 is inclined, any water that deposits on the wiper flange 28 (of FIGURE 10) will run off onto the roof 49. It should further be evident that when the damper element 54 opens, this side will proceed upwardly and the wiper flange 28 will assume the configuration of the wiper flange in FIGURES 8 and 9. Thus any water retained thereon will again be directed into the channel portion of the gutter means 20.

Thus it should be evident from the foregoing description that the lengthwise wiping contact between the wiper flange 28 and the faces 66 provides not only a weathertight seal but also a light-tight seal.

Further because of its resilient nature and because of its construction the present gutter means is adjustable and conforms to the shape of the support to which it is secured. Still further the present gutter means provides wiper flanges which conform to the surface with which they are engaged.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principle, preferred embodiment and mode of operation of my invention and have illustrated and described what I now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, I desire to have it understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

I claim:

1. In a ventilator having a base including side walls and end walls which surround an opening in a roof of a building, a plurality of spaced support elements extending between said side walls, normally coplanar damper elements one each disposed between a pair of said support elements and each including opposed ends pivotally secured to said pair of support elements for rotation about an axis substantially parallel to said side walls, the axis of each said damper element being in substantial alignment with the axes of the remaining damper elements, said ends including a face disposed substantially normal to the axis of said damper, means connected to a group of said damper elements for pivoting the said group as a unit about their respective axes, and stationary gutter means extending between adjacent faces of adjacent damper elements for light-proofing the said ventilator, the improvement in said stationary gutter means comprising:

a unitary strip of resilient rubber-like material including opposed laterally displaceable L-shaped portions each having a vertical leg and a horizontal leg,

a bendable central portion having terminal side edges contiguous with said horizontal legs, and

at least one wiper flange on each said vertical leg disposed in outboard relation to said horizontal leg, said opposed L-shaped portions having said horizontal legs secured to one of said support elements,

said wiper flanges being in wiping contact with said adjacent faces when said adjacent faces are pivoted into engagement therewith.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the thickness of said bendable central portion is less than the thickness of said opposed L-shaped portions.

3. The improvement of claim 2 wherein the said bendable central portion is arcuately shaped whereby the said wiper flanges are biased away from each other.

4. The improvement of claim 1 including a plurality of wiper flanges on each said vertical leg disposed in outboard relation to the said horizontal leg.

5. The improvement of claim 4 wherein the outer edges of the said wiper flanges lie in a plane, said plane being inclined with respect to said vertical leg.

6. The improvement of claim 1 including fastening means extending through said horizontal legs into said support elements at spaced distances along the length of said gutter means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 222,349 Great Britain J an. 26, 1955 

